Lord Shiva's devotees in Jaipur formed long serpentine queues at the wee hours of the morning today to visit and worship at the temple of lord Shiva on small hill in the city called Moti Dungri. The temple is opened to visitors once in a year on Mahashivratri, which is the private property of ex-rulers of Jaipur. At the foothill of Moti Dungri is the famous Ganesh Giri temple visited by both devotees and tourists.

Another name of Jaipur is Chhoti Kashi, as there are
many temples and pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Shiva in this
holy pink city. Looking at rush of devotees and pilgrims from city
and outskirts to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva at famous Temple at Moti
Dungri, security has been intensified in Jaipur.

In
Focus

In Jaipur, all Lord Shiva temples have been decked
up for the celebration of Mahashivratri celebrated every year on the
13th night/14th day of the Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar.
Mahashivaratri marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the
'Tandava' and was also married to Parvati on this day.

The temples here are thronged by devotees with
Tripundra Tilaks and reverberate with chants of 'Nama Shivaya', 'Bam
Bam Bhole Nath', and 'Hara Hara Mahadeva'.Devotional singing and
Kirtans have been organized at the temples in addition to discourses
on Shiva tatva related to enlightenment, yoga and
auspicious-bestowing principle.

In Shiva temples, throughout the night, Abhishek
ceremony will be performed every three hours with water, milk,
yogurt, and honey. Bel leaves will be offered for granting a
purposeful and successful life to all. Lord Shiva?s idols are
depicted with a third eye, with which he burned Desire or kama to
ashes. Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake which denotes
control on vices and wisdom. Shiva?s weapon is the trident that is
held in His right hand to represents the three Gunas? Sattva, Rajas
and Tamas - through which he rules the world.